Gregg Hunter’s Newspace

After a strategic pause for remodeling, Lotus Chinese Gourmet, a storefront neighborhood restaurant at 511 N. Glenoaks Blvd. in Burbank, is open for lunch, dinner, take-out and catering seven days a week from 11 a.m. til 10 p.m. and til 10:30 Friday and Saturday.

My lunch-mate and I came in shortly after 1 and the place was nearly empty with a single server handling the busy phones and a few tables. It took 20 minutes to order and get served. She was sweet but swamped.

Lunch proved well worth the wait. The good news included really generous portions at low prices. Lunches, served til 4 p.m., run from $5.99 to $7.99 — including a main dish after a soup and with an egg roll, fried wonton and rice. The steaming egg drop soup abounded with Chinese veggies. It’s a lot of tasty food, so expect to ask for a carryout pack. Chicken and shrimp come a dozen delicious ways. The chewy chunks of boneless orange chicken provided a sweet treat, $6.49.

House special dinner portions are piled on a platter from $10 to $14.99 and there are dozens of other entree choices — all available for take-out.

For free delivery of $10 or more, give them a call. Lotus is on the web at lotuschinese.tumbir.com

Dan Tana’s has long been a favorite show biz hangout at 9071 Santa Monica Blvd. because Chef Neno Miadenvic veers toward classic dishes with innovative touches — never merely trendy. That includes the house Caesar salad where the simple secret ingredient is medium olive oil rather than the heavier oil. It must be good. They serve up to 150 nitely.

About

The Tolucan Times is a free weekly community newspaper, published since 1937 and available online. With over 600 drop locations throughout the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys from Encino to Pasadena, The Tolucan Times serves the communities of Glendale, Flintridge La Canada, Burbank, North Hollywood, Toluca Lake, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, and Van Nuys, to list a few.